Sun’s out, Easter bunny’s out at Woodlawn Lake Park

By Alexandro Luna, Staff Writer

Updated
9:30 pm CDT, Sunday, April 1, 2018

Claudia Santos, dressed as the Easter Bunny, cracks a cascarone on Rosalie Castellanos's head while spreading Easter cheer by visiting family campsites at Woodlawn Lake Park on Sunday, April 1, 2018. MARVIN PFEIFFER/mpfeiffer@express-news.net less

Claudia Santos, dressed as the Easter Bunny, cracks a cascarone on Rosalie Castellanos's head while spreading Easter cheer by visiting family campsites at Woodlawn Lake Park on Sunday, April 1, 2018. MARVIN ... more

Photo: Marvin Pfeiffer, Staff / San Antonio Express-News

Photo: Marvin Pfeiffer, Staff / San Antonio Express-News

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Claudia Santos, dressed as the Easter Bunny, cracks a cascarone on Rosalie Castellanos's head while spreading Easter cheer by visiting family campsites at Woodlawn Lake Park on Sunday, April 1, 2018. MARVIN PFEIFFER/mpfeiffer@express-news.net less

Claudia Santos, dressed as the Easter Bunny, cracks a cascarone on Rosalie Castellanos's head while spreading Easter cheer by visiting family campsites at Woodlawn Lake Park on Sunday, April 1, 2018. MARVIN ... more

Photo: Marvin Pfeiffer, Staff / San Antonio Express-News

Sun’s out, Easter bunny’s out at Woodlawn Lake Park

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Amid all the barbecue grilling and the cascaron-cracking, a calm breeze brushed along the landscape at Woodlawn Lake on Sunday afternoon, where the park grounds were filled with families celebrating Easter.

For Rosalie Castellanos, 28, and her family, Woodlawn Lake Park and its open, green spaces was a good alternative to bustling Brackenridge Park.

“Everyone was packed together…police were not letting anyone stop, we had to keep moving,” she said. “This spot was perfect for us.”

Although Castellanos and her family said they had only been to the West Side park a few times in the past, she was satisfied that their spot had a clear view of the lake and was only steps away from their parking spot. Castellanos attributed this fortune to what she saw as fewer people at the park.

“We’ve had a good time today and we’re barely getting started,” Castellanos said.

Local families carried on the San Antonio Easter tradition by camping and grilling at area city parks. Here is a look at the scenes from Brackenridge Park Sunday, April 1, 2018.

Local families carried on the San Antonio Easter tradition by camping and grilling at area city parks. Here is a look at the scenes from Brackenridge Park Sunday, April 1, 2018.

Photo: B. Kay Richter For MySA

Photo: B. Kay Richter For MySA

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Local families carried on the San Antonio Easter tradition by camping and grilling at area city parks. Here is a look at the scenes from Brackenridge Park Sunday, April 1, 2018.

Local families carried on the San Antonio Easter tradition by camping and grilling at area city parks. Here is a look at the scenes from Brackenridge Park Sunday, April 1, 2018.

Photo: B. Kay Richter For MySA

Photos: Locals carry on a San Antonio Easter tradition at Brackenridge Park

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In preparation of the festivities, Carlos Estrada, 28, along with his family, said they arrived at 5 p.m. the day before to claim a spot and camp out overnight on Woodlawn Lake. This, Estrada said, has been a family tradition since 2009.

“We’ve been doing this for nine years. We spend the night almost every Easter,” Estrada said, adding that he planned to stay until 8 or 9 p.m.

Estrada said he had close to 30 family members present at the park Sunday with more coming and some traveling all the way from Galveston and Mexico.

On the south corner of the lake, under the shade of a nearby tree, Ray Elam, 39, along with his wife Christina Elam, 29, said they arrived around 9 a.m. to set up their pit to grill their favorites: chicken leg quarters, beef fajitas, hot dogs, corn stalks, nopalitosand freshgarbanzo beans.

“We’re going to beat the sun,” Ray Elam said, who, along with extended family, planned to stay as long as they could at the park before they had to return to their daily routines on Monday.

In the spirit of the day, Claudia Santos, 44, dressed up in a white rabbit suit in 80-degree temperatures and walked around giving free photo opportunities, cascarones and candy to children at the park.

“I do it for the community and the children, for laughs and fun,” Santos said, adding that she plans on doing the same next year.